As two powerful fire-wielders who suffered similar internal and external scars, fans often compare My Hero Academia's Shoto Todoroki to Avatar: The Last Airbender's Zuko. The two compelling young men were primarily hurt by their own parents in their childhood, which fuels their actions well into maturity.
However, both make fantastic strides forward as their stories go on, thanks to their quiet but strong determination and the love and guidance of the friendships around them. With complex character arcs that have captivated fans worldwide, let's delve into the dark pasts that shaped Todoroki and Zuko.
How MHA's Shoto Todoroki Got His Burn Scar
My Hero Academia's Shoto Todoroki is the son of the famous Flame Hero Endeavor, who was the world's second greatest hero behind All Might. Given his resentment and bitterness at always being number two, Endeavor arranges a Quirk marriage with a woman named Rei who had an ice quirk. Wanting to conceive a more powerful child who could finally surpass All Might by wielding both fire and ice, Endeavor had three children who failed to inherit both Quirks. When Shoto is born as their fourth and last child, he becomes the only one to successfully inherit both fire and ice.
Despite receiving both Quirks, Todoroki's powers prove to be a curse rather than a blessing. Obsessed with finally surpassing All Might through his stronger child, Endeavor ruthlessly trained Todoroki from a very young age. The boy was separated from his other siblings and trained to the point of exhaustion and sickness. When his mother tried to defend him from his father's harsh training, Endeavor would hit his wife in front of the young Todoroki.
After suffering under the pain and stress of Endeavor's domestic abuse, Todoroki's mother resented and feared Endeavor and anything that reminded her of him. During a mental breakdown, she was triggered by Todoroki's red hair and poured boiling water on the left side of Todoroki's face which gave him a permanent burn scar. Afterward, his mother was taken to a mental institution where he could no longer see her and Todoroki was left in the hands of his father and abuser.
How Avatar: The Last Airbender's Zuko Got His Burn Scar
Born as the proud crown prince of the Fire Nation, many assumed Zuko led a life of privilege and luxury in the Avatar world's most powerful nation. As the first born of Fire Lord Ozai and Princess Ursa, his father resented him while his mother adored him. His father preferred his ruthless and manipulative younger sister named Azula, who treated Zuko inhumanely. When their mother mysteriously disappeared and Zuko was scared and upset, Azula was happy and mocked the fact that Azulon died and their mother was gone.
After Azulon's death and Uncle Iroh's terrible mental state given the death of his only son, Zuko's father became Fire Lord with Azula being a top war strategist and the favorite child. During a meeting with the war council, the young Zuko spoke up when a general planned to sacrifice a whole division of new fire nation recruits. His outburst was seen as an insult and his father forced him to fight him in an Agni Kai.
When Zuko refused to fight his own father and begged for his forgiveness, his father calls him weak and disrespectful before permanently burning him on the left side of his face. Afterward, Zuko's father banned him from the Fire Nation and declared he couldn't return to his homeland until he successfully captured the Avatar.
MHA's Todoroki Vs. Avatar's Zuko: Who Has the Darker Backstory?
Both Todoroki and Zuko have burn marks on the left side of their face, making their character designs comparable and instantly recognizable to fans. They both received their scars either directly or indirectly from abusive fathers who prioritize power and strength over the wellbeing of their families. Not only do both fathers terrorize their sons, they also harm and get rid of their own wives who wish to protect their vulnerable children. With nearly identical childhoods and cruel family dynamics, Todoroki and Zuko's backstories are more alike than they are different.
While the two fire-wielders share both internal and external scars that reflect one another, Todoroki and Zuko also undergo similar character development in their respected series. MHA's Todoroki is introduced as a cold and insensitive kuudere who keeps his distance from his 1-A classmates and denounces his father's fire Quirk. However, he learns to open up to others and accept the fire side of him with the help of Izuku Midoriya and his new friends.
Meanwhile, Zuko initially stars in Avatar: The Last Airbender as the main antagonist who wants to capture Aang by any means necessary before eventually becoming friends with him. While his brute force and tricks turn viewers against him in the beginning, sympathy when his backstory unravels and his motivations for capturing Aang are revealed.
Todoroki and Zuko share similar backstories, but Zuko's is arguably the darker because Todoroki has siblings who love him while Endeavor is now trying to redeem himself and rebuild the family. As Todoroki still grapples with his past and tries to forgive his father, Zuko has benefited from a completed story and character arc where he overcomes his dark past and finds his own happiness. While Zuko's intricate journey of self-discovery and redemption makes for one of the most extensive and acclaimed character arcs of all time, Todoroki has the potential to surpass the beloved Fire Lord by the time MHA concludes.
